2021 Loss to Kansas 'Still Haunts' Revenge-Seeking Longhorns

Most Longhorns fans have had this game circled since last November.

Last November, the Texas Longhorns, a 30.5-point favorite against a one-win Kansas, were in the midst of overtime as quarterback Casey Thompson delivered an 8-yard strike to Marcus Washington for a touchdown to make it 56-49. 

Three more stops, the game is over. 

Instead, Jalon Daniels did what he had done all night; overachieve. Following a 2-yard touchdown run by Devin Neal, Daniels told first-year Jayhawks coach Lance Leipold to go for two. A quick pass to Jared Casey and the rest was history. 

Texas, a program expected to follow the "All Gas, No Brakes" mantra under first-year coach Steve Sarkisian, officially dropped its fifth-straight game to a program that won three games in three games in three years prior to its 57-56 overtime victory in Austin. 

That's the loss that has lingered throughout the program for a year. Running back Bijan Robinson, who suffered a season-ending elbow injury in the third quarter, told reporters he's tried not to remember the night. 

Defensive lineman Ovie Oghoufo, who some believed was held on the final play, has let the memory fester for over a year. 

"It still haunts me a little bit," Oghoufu said with a laugh Monday during Texas' open media session. 

Saturday's rematch between the Longhorns and Jayhawks might garner more national recognition than in years past. Texas (6-4, 4-2 Big 12) still somewhat controls its own destiny of making the Big 12 Championship on Dec. 3 should it win out. 

The Jayhawks (6-4, 3-4 Big 12), meanwhile, might be the more underappreciated story in college football for 2022. The win over Texas breathed life into the program, helping the Jayhawks battle it out in hard-fought losses to close out the season. A year later, Kansas began its campaign on a five-game win streak and is now bowl-eligible for the first time since 2008. 

“I think Lance has done a great job,” Sarkisian said Monday. “They came out early in the year and really jumped on people. Very unique style of offense, a lot of triple-option components to what they do. They force you to play disciplined football."

This isn't the same Texas team that underwhelmed with a 5-7 record a season ago. In a sense, the Longhorns have flashed all season. The problem? Second-half collapses from the offense are still a thing. 

The same could be said for Kansas, which currently ranks 17th among FBS programs in scoring (36.9 points per game). Even with Daniels being sidelined due to injury, backup quarterback Jason Bean and the Jayhawks have orchestrated passionate and rich-filled drives culminating in points during their last four games. 

Sarkisian said Monday that the program isn't viewing its road trip to Lawrence as a "revenge game" but rather a chance to show the difference an offseason can make. On Thursday, Sark reiterated his stance on Saturday being a game where "adversity and resilience" will be a factor in the outcome. 

"I can’t commend them enough for the job they’ve done this week and coming back to work, understanding a new gameplan, the intent, what’s at stake big picture, yet honing all the way in on what was at stake each and every day at practice," Sarkisian said. "And then, getting ourselves prepared to play Kansas on Saturday.”

Sarkisian has prided his roster on their ability to play with a short memory all season. Minor mistakes must be eliminated before kickoff if Texas hopes to make a statement on the road and not fall into the same trap as last week against No. 4 TCU. 

The Horned Frogs forced Texas to become one-dimensional as an offense in a 17-10 win at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium last week. The Longhorns posted season lows in offensive points (three), rushing yards (28), yards per rush (1.27), and first downs (14). 

Quinn Ewers, whose status as the long-term starter has come into question as of late, threw a costly interception in the second quarter and finished the second half 13-of-22 for 132 yards. Sarkisian confirmed he'll start again Saturday and should remain the team's starter through the season finale next week against Baylor. 

Kansas won't have the opportunity to represent the Big 12 in AT&T Stadium next month against the Horned Frogs, but it can prove its status as a rising contender with a win. Back-to-back wins over the Longhorns and No. 15 Kansas State would mark the best season in program history since 2008. 

For Texas, a win doesn't rectify what occurred last season in Austin, but it does ease some of the flames that have plagued the Horns all season. 

"There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff that should be motivating for our guys," Sarkisian said. "But the biggest motivator should be a standard of football that we’re capable of playing. And we need to get back to playing to that standard.”

Kickoff from David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium is set for 2:30 p.m. C.T. 

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